Rocker arm



March 17, 1953 R w JR 2,631,471

ROCKER ARM Filed 001;. 4, 1946 IN V EN TOR. .725 72 M37227; -77!Patented Mar. 17, 1953 nocmm ARM John It. Winter, Jr., Detroit, Mich.,assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to John R. Winter, Sr.,Detroit, Mich.

Application October 4, 1946, Serial No. 701,150

11 Claims. 1

The invention relates generally to intern-a1 combustion engines and ithas particular relationto a rocker arm adapted to be used for operatingvalves.

- In certain respects the invention constitutes an.

improvement over the rocker arms disclosed and claimed in my copendingapplications for patent, Serial No. 545,597, filed July 19, 1944, nowPat. No. 2,578,638, issued December 11, 1951, Serial No. 560,532, filedOctober 27, 1944, now Pat. No.'

2,509,661 issued May 30, 1950, and Serial No. 582,039, filed March 10,1945, now Pat No. 2,523,- 489, issued September 26, 1950. In each ofthese applications for patent a rocker arm is disclosed comprising alaminated stamping having a transverse opening which receives a tubularhub element. This element is bulbed at each side of the stamping so asto form an annular head at each side of the arm and the two headsrigidly lock the laminations together and also rigidly lock' the elementto the stamping. A bearing sleeve is disposed in this hub element forreceiving the rocker arm shaft and during operation of the engine, therocker arm oscillates on the shaft. Lubricant supplied to the shaftflows through openings therein and in the bearing sleeve to a grooveformed at the joining edges of the laminations and from this groove itis conducted through an upwardly extending opening in the stamping tothe upper vide an 'i mproved'arrangement for supplying or conductinglubricant to the ends of the arm which includes the annular groovesprovided by the bulbed heads.

Another object a lubricating-arrangement such as stated above headsserve as selective lubricant passages.

lar so as to promote a slower flow of lubricant to the upper edge of thearm and thus prevent undesirable squirting of the lubricant into the airabove the arm.

Other objects of the invention will become aphereinafter set forth.

---For a better understanding of the mvention" reference maybe had tothe drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a rocker arm conedge thereof. 9 From thispointit I fiows opposite directions tothe ends of the ':O,neobject ofthepresent invention is to pro-- of the invention is to provide parentfrom the following specification, from the. drawings re'lating'thereto,and from the claims I ,structed according to one form of the invention.

v Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the rocker arm shown byFigure 1. I v Figure3 is a cross sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken sub-'- stantially along theline 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken sub: stantially along the line5-5 of Figure 2. Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 66 of Figure 2. v Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view ofthe end of an arm constructed according to another form of theinvention.

Referring to the figures, the body of the arm "comprises a stamping 10having laminations H' and I2. integrally connected at one end by a sub-'stantially cylindrical portion i3 and, initially, the laminations arestamped from sheet metal and then are bent intermediate their ends toform the cylindrical portion. At the opposite end of the stamping, thelaminations have outwardly pressed portions [4 and 15 respectively, soas to form an opening I6 between them. After the stamping is bent intothe shape shown, the laminations may be spot welded at suitable points-'as indicated at I7 and 19. Also, as shown par ticularly by Figure 1, theends of the arm out-;

wardly of the opening [6 are electric arc welded cal portion I3, abearing element 22 is mounted;

on the arm by means of a shank 23 having a press fit in the opening inthe cylindrical portion.' This bearing element is constructed fromhardthe cylindrical portion, the element can be driven out of the latterand replaced in the event 1'6" placement should ever be desired. Theopening l6 at the other end of the arm has a threaded bearing element 25threaded therethrough anda lock nut 26 on this element holds it in anyadjusted position.

' Intermediate its these may be formed in the metal prior to bend-1 ingit into a laminated form. A tubular element 30 extends through theopenings 28 and 29 and is rigidly connected to the laminations by meanselement 30 so as to fold the walls in a manner described particularly inmy application for pat i ent, Serial No. 545,597, filed July 19, 1944,now} 1 Pat. No. 2,578,638, issuedDecember '11, 1951'." It

ened steel and since the shank has a press fi-tin I ends thelaminationsH an I2 have openings 28 and 29 respectively and;

should be understood that when the heads are finally formed, thelaminations are strongly and tightly drawn together and at the same timethe tubular element is strongly and positively connected to thelaminations. A bearing sleeve 34 is provided within the element 30 andthis sleeve receives a tubular shaft not shown upon which the rocker armoscillates during its operation. Oil is supplied to the interior of theshaft under a desired pressure and reaches the inner surface of thesleeve 34 by means of radial openings in the shaft.

The lubricant passes from the shait through openings 36 and 31 in thesleeve and these. openings are substantially in the plane of the laminations H and i2. As best shown by Figure 5, the opening 36 coincides oris in alignment with an axial slot 40 formed in the wall of the hubelement 3!! and this slot extends through the nner wal o the bu b d head.3! a n an annular g oove .3 .f9mle l he u e head during the "bulbing orfielding of the hub wall: s shown by Figu e fl, the op n ng 31 in thebearing sl e e c inc des or s al enhe t w thah x a slot .1 n the hub wll whi e s th ou he i e wa l of. the .bu bedhead and n e ect an a nularg ove orme i the bulbed hea u ng th bu ins opera on: It i to be notedthat the lot 40 does not communicate i the a ular gr o e 2 and that thesl t 4| does not omm cate with the annular groove 39 so that oil flowingthrough opening 31 flows to the groove 42 and oil flowi g t rough n g 6ows to the g o e It s to be u d rs o d th t he e in s eeve has a pressor t h .f t in h hu e e e t so hat slee e m v s ith the arm during os ilation of. the tte Usuall he h l sha ill ha e a Pa r o adia o enings ndthese may b so l t d that when the rocker arm oscillates, one opening inthe shaft will for an instant become aligned with the opening 3! in thebearing sleeve and then the othe ope ng in he haft will ecome a i nedwith p i 3 so ha ur n an sing e osc ll t on o l will flow rou h the openg 3 d en h oug e ing Ho ve it may be that the openin s n t e sha tmight not be located to register with openings 35 and 31 and insteadmerel su ply lubr c n between th suriaoes oi the shat-t an bearin sle veand thi event th oil w u d flow bet ee these our faces. and. o e opening3 a d. 3.

as best s own y F gur 3 the ub elemen su s ntially m dway bet e n th slos 4!! and. 4. ha an a al slot 45. whi extends to both o; the annulargrooves 39 and 42 so that lubricant either g o e ay flow nt his l t: Ths. slot ommunica es ith a vertica y ext nding opening 46, formed b tw nth stampl ss a d such ope ing leads to the pper ed e or the arm.

In or er to con rol the ow of lubricant from t e pper end of pe ing 46to the oppo i e ends oi the rocker arm, as has been brought out par.-ticular in y pp c r P te No 560,532, the am atio H a er ally dir c ngpro ie on o ea s 50 nd 5| t positesides of; the op ning 6 and s il rlythe lami ti n. l2. has upwa ly d r ctin pro ections r ears 5.: and 5.3at op osi s s or th openin 46. The ears. 5!! and 2 are a gn d ransve sey of the lamie nations and are ben ap rt o orm a v-shape lubricant s gedimi arly the ears 5| an 4 passage 58 and the size of these passages and58 can be varied, depending upon the extent to which the ears are bentapart. This provides a control means for adjusting the amount oflubricant that will flow through the passages towards the ends of therocker arm.

lso, as has b n u ht out particularly in su h opending applicatio ratent, t w laminations at their upper edges are formed to providelubricant conducting grooves 60 and BI leading from the passages 55 and58 respectively, and extending to opposite ends of the arm. The groove60 leads to a downwardly extending passage .65 the cylindrical portionl3 which is formed where the straight part of the arm joins thecylindrical portion and this opening will conduct lubricant downwardlyand past the head 22 oh the lower end of the bearing element. Somelubricant also may flow over the sides of the cylindrical portion anddownwardly to this head but in both instances the lubricant reaches thelower surface of theflhead. A-tthe opposite end of the rocker arm thegroove 6| joins-a larger groove 66 which leads to a downwardly directedpassage 51'! Iormed between the laminations so that lubricant may flowdownwardly to the end f the t a ed be i g e em nt 2.

The faces. of the ears 5}; and 52 next to the pe ing .46 ar ncl ned up rly and. inwardly s ic ted at in igu .2 and a s are inclined laterallyand slightly away from the hole 46 as ind ated a t and 1 I. simila y the.faces of the ea s 1 a d 53 are inc in d u w rd y an inwa d y as indated at Figure 2 and lat ly and sl ghtl away .froin. hole 46. as indi atd at 4 and 1.5. Th s races aot dams which p event lubr cant irom f owinto the ends o m xc pt as permitted by the g ooves. 55. and158 nd theangled faces. as shown in Figu e ll act to pause the excess lubricant toflow laterally over the sides of the arm,

During operation as the arm. oscillates. lubricant will flow through theopening 31 in the. bearing sleeve and then through the. axial Slot 4| tothe annular groove 42 in the bullied head 32. and also t wi l flowthrough the opening 36 in. the b aring slee a d hr ugh t e axial slot4.0 n o the annular roove 3 in he. bulbed hea slr m ea h annular oov thelub icant flows to he x a slo 4 and then t rou h the openi g 46 to theupper edge of the arm. This arrangement o only p vides two. l bricatingpassages ut .i ls pro des ortuous and i e u ar paths which endv o p ventthe lubricant from squirting. ups wardly to an undesir ble extent abovethe upper edge of the arm. wardly t an. undesirable ext nt some i mightbe. thrown ov r he ears 5. 1,5 nd 55. as the arm osc llates. and. an udesirabl qu ntity o lubricant mi ht find. its way to the ends of thearm. It is desirable that the l bric nt mayzll more slowly out. ofopening 55 so that its llow may be controlled more definitely betweenhe.

two sets of cars and the tortuous paths: acting as a. means. tor slowinu the lub icant flow therefore operate to provide reater ac uracy the.control of; lubricant fl w ng to the ends of the arm.

In the form shown by Fig! L the upper en portion of the shank, .3pinched Q1 pressed.

so that. the lower curved suriaoe oi. head 22',-

53. are. bent apart to torn; v shape lubricant. 5 which is. cylindrical.can be. more readi ir die- If the lubrigant squirts up.

posedfwith its axis parallel to the axis of the hub sleeve 30.

Although more than one form of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat various modifications may be made without departing from the Spirit'of the invention and from thexscope of the claims. I

What is claimed is:

1. A rocker arm comprising an arm having a transverse opening, a tubularhub element extending through the opening, means rigidly connecting theelement to the arm and comprising an annular bulbed head on the elementon one side of the arm, and means for lubricating an end of the armincluding an annular passage within the bulbed head.

2. A rocker arm comprising an arm having a transverse opening, a tubularhub element extending through the opening, means rigidly connecting theelement to the arm and comprising annular bulbed heads on the elementand operatively engaging opposite sides of the arm respectively, each ofsaid bulbed heads providing an annular groove or passage between itsfolded walls, a sleeve fastened in the hub element and having lubricantopenings in its wall which communicate with the grooves, and means forconducting lubricant from the grooves to the ends of the arm.

3. A rocker arm comprising an arm having a transverse opening, a tubularhub element extending through the opening, means rigidly connecting theelement to the arm and comprising annular bulbed heads on the elementand operatively engaging opposite sides of the arm respectively, each ofsaid bulbed heads providing an annular groove or passage between itsfolded walls, a sleeve fastened in the hub element and havingcircumferentially spaced openings in its wall which communicaterespectively with the grooves,and means for conducting lubricant fromthe grooves to the ends of the arm.

4. A rocker arm comprising an arm having a transverse opening, a tubularhub element extending through the opening, means rigidly connectingv theelement to the arm and comprising annular bulbed heads on the elementand operatively"'-iengaging opposite sides of the arm respectively, eachof said bulbed heads providing an annular groove or passage between its"folded walls, a sleeve fastened in the hub and'having lubricantopenings in its wall which communicate with the grooves, and means forconducting lubricant to the ends of the arm including a slot in the wallof the hub element and extending between and connecting the two grooves.

5. A rocker arm comprising an arm having a transverse opening, a tubularhub element extending through the opening, means rigidly con--transverse opening, a tubular hub element extending through the opening,means rigidly connecting the element to the arm and comprising annularbulbed heads on the element and operatively engaging opposite sides ofthe arm respectively, each of said bulbed heads providing 6. an annulargroove or passage between its folded walls, and a sleeve fastened in thehub element and having circumferentially spaced lubricant openings inits wall, said hub element having circumferentially spaced slots in itswall, one of which connects one groove with one of the openings in thesleeve and the other of which connects the other groove with theother'opening in the sleeve.

7. A rocker arm comprising an arm having a transverse opening, a tubularhub element ex-' tending through the opening, means rigidly connectingthe element to the arm and comprising annular bulbed heads on theelement and operatively engaging opposite sides of the arm respectively,each of said bulbed heads providing an annular groove or passage betweenits folded walls, a sleeve fastened in the hub element and havingcircumferentially spaced lubricant. open-1 ings in its wall, said hubelement having circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending slotsin its wall one of which connects one groove with one of the openings inthe sleeve and the other of which connects the other groove with theother opening in the sleeve, said hub element having a thirdlongitudinally extending slot which connects both grooves, and means forconducting lubricant to one end of the arm including an opening in thearm which leads to the third slot.

8. A rocker arm comprising an arm having a transverse opening, a tubularhub element extending through the opening, means rigidly connecting theelement to the arm and comprising an annular bulbed head on the elementon one side of the arm, and means for lubricating an end of the armincluding an annular channel located at least partly within the bulbedhead and opening inwardly of the tubular hub element and adapted to besubstantially closed ofi by a bearing sleeve inserted in said hubelement.

9. A rocker arm comprising an arm having a transverse opening, a tubularhub element extending through the opening, means rigidly connecting theelement to th arm and comprising an annular bulbed head on the elementon one side of the arm, and means for lubricating an end of the armincluding an annular channel located at least partly within the bulbedhead and opening inwardly of the tubular hub element and adapted to besubstantially closed off by a bearing sleeve inserted in said hubelement, said hub element also having a longitudinally extending feedslot for conducting oil to said channel, a second longitudinallyextending feed slot circumferentially spaced from the firstmentionedfeed slot and intersecting said channel for conducting oil therefrom,portions of said arm defining an oil passage extending outwardly fromthe hub element and intersecting said second feed passage at a pointspaced from said channel.

10. A rocker arm'comprising an arm having a transverse opening, atubular hub element extending through the opening, means rigidlyconnecting the element to the arm and comprising a pair of annularbulbed heads on the element, one on each side of the arm, and means forlubricating an end of the arm including an annular passage within eachbulbed head and opening inwardly of the tubular hub element and adaptedto be substantially closed off by a bearing sleeve inserted in said hubelement, said hub element also having a pair of longitudinally extendingfeed slots one of which intersects and is adapted to nd l o each of saidpassa es irom a supply opening inthe sleeve. and. a third lone tudinallyextending teed slot circumferentially spaced from bothpreviously-mentioned feed slots and communicating independently thereofwith both of said passages for conducting oi1 therefrom.

11. An engine rocker arm comprising an arm member composed ofsuperimposed layers :having sockets at its ends for contact bearing Saidlayers having axially registering hub openings intermediate their ends,a tubular bushing mounted in said openings and sealing the line ofcontact of the arm layers around said bushing and having an annular oilgroove in its inner side, said bushinghaving an oil passage from saidgro0ve,and said arm having a passage extending upwardly between itslayers from said first passage to the top edge of the arm, and a bearinbushing mounted, in said firs bushing to close the inner side of thegroove therein and having a radial passag therethrough connecting withsaid groove.

JOHN R. WINTER, J R.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,278,195 Ncack l Sept. 10, 19181,449,611 Konigslow new"-.. Mar. 27. 1923 1,943,631 Skillman Jan. 16,1934, 2,176,0 3 Leake hm--. Oct. 1'1, 1939 2,217,742 Gillette Oct. 15,194:0 2,415,213- Leake e Feb. 4, 1947

